As healthcare workers ourselves, we know what it’s like to face the dreaded flu season. Nurses and home healthcare workers are on the front lines of patient care, especially during the challenging winter months when flu season hits its peak. It’s crucial to be informed and prepared to protect yourselves and your vulnerable patients. Since we can be contagious a day before symptoms develop and up to seven days after becoming sick, vigilant hygiene practices, even when you feel perfectly fine, are critical. While we think we may know all we need to know about this virus, here’s some tips about the 2024 flu season.
Flu in Recent Years: A Snapshot
Before we look ahead, let’s glance back. The 2023-2024 flu season was moderately severe, with activity beginning to increase in early November 2023 and peaking in late December 2023. Influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 was the predominant strain circulating. The CDC estimates that over 44,900 people died from flu complications during this period. This data underscores the serious health threat influenza poses and the importance of proactive measures.
Predictions for the 2024-2025 Flu Season
While it’s impossible to predict the severity of the upcoming flu season with absolute certainty, experts emphasize the importance of vaccination as the primary defense against the flu. The CDC recommends everyone six months and older get an updated 2024-2025 flu vaccine to reduce the risk of influenza and its potentially serious complications. The composition of U.S. flu vaccines is reviewed annually, and new flu vaccines are manufactured each year. The 2024-2025 U.S. flu vaccines are three-component (trivalent) vaccines and include an influenza A(H1N1), an A(H3N2) and a B/Victoria-lineage vaccine virus.
Most people need only one dose of the flu vaccine each season. While CDC recommends flu vaccination as long as influenza viruses are circulating, September and October remain the best times for most people to get vaccinated.
Tips for Staying Healthy: A Two-Pronged Approach
Protecting yourself is essential for protecting your patients. Here’s how both you and those under your care can stay healthy this winter:
For Home Healthcare Workers:
- Get Vaccinated: Period.
- Practice Good Hygiene: Wash your hands frequently with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer, especially after touching surfaces in patients’ homes.
- Stay Home When Sick: If you’re experiencing flu-like symptoms, stay home to avoid spreading the virus to your patients.
- Maintain a Healthy Lifestyle: Eat a balanced diet, get enough sleep, and manage stress to keep your immune system strong.
For Patients:
- Encourage Patient Vaccination: Talk to your patients and their families about the importance of getting their flu shots. (see tips below)
- Practice Respiratory Etiquette: Tell them to cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue or their elbow to prevent the spread of germs.
- Remind Them to Maintain Good Hygiene: Remind them to wash hands frequently or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer, and avoid touching their face.
- Consider Antiviral Medications: If your patient develops the flu, consult their doctor about antiviral medications, which can help lessen the severity and duration of the illness.
Flu Shot Safety: Addressing Concerns
Due to recent waves of misinformation, we understand that some patients may be wary and have questions about the safety of the flu vaccine. It’s important to rely on credible sources and dispel any incorrect ideas they have about vaccines.
Here are some key points to stress to patients:
- History of Success: Flu vaccines have been recommended in the United States for more than 50 years and have been shown to reduce the risk of flu and its potentially serious complications in people who get vaccinated.
- Rigorous Testing: Flu vaccines undergo extensive testing and monitoring before being approved for use.
- Minor Side Effects: Common side effects are usually mild and temporary, such as soreness at the injection site, low-grade fever, or muscle aches.
- Serious Reactions are Rare: Severe allergic reactions are extremely rare. Healthcare providers are trained to manage such situations should they occur.
- No Live Virus: The flu shot cannot give you the flu. It contains inactivated (killed) viruses or a single protein from the flu virus to stimulate your immune system.
Conclusion
The flu season poses a significant health risk, especially for vulnerable individuals receiving home healthcare. By following these preventive measures and staying informed, you can play a crucial role in protecting yourself, your patients, and the wider community.